Hi to all network members of the Greenbox. This is our blog!
Here, we'll keep you posted about what's on in the region, all the latest enviro-news, our own upcoming events, training days, network events and more. We'll still email you, but now we also have the option of emailing with a link to the blog.
So keep telling us about your events and news, and we'll keep the network posted. You can subscribe to a feed to this blog by clicking the link at the bottom of the page

Friday, March 28, 2008

This year's Earth Hour takes place between 8pm and 9pm this Saturday March 29th. Earth Hour seeks toinspire people to take action on climate change by having individuals, businesses and public offices turn off all lights for one hour. Last year, 2.2 million people and 2100 businesses in Sydney turned off theirlights, reducing the city's energy consumption by 10.2%. We hope that you will join us in turning off the lights for Earth Hour 2008. For more information on the event, visit hereand for a very quirky option, see here

We've been busy publicizing our members, and here is some info on that guys:

EU flower news: A special publication has just been produced by EU Commission. The focus is the island of Ireland, the Greenbox, Kingfisher trail and the regional EU flowers are the main features of this publication. This new publication was promoted at ITB Berlin - the biggest Tourism Fair in Europe.We'll put a link on this blog and on our site soon. For now, you can see an earlier EU Flower publication, focusing on the whole EU here: Flowers in Ireland are on page four and five.

Mary Mulvey (CEO) and Jerome O'Loughlin of Ireland Ecotours were on Dave Fanning's drivetime radio show on RTE1 on Thursday. They did a great job representing the Greenbox. Don't worry, if you missed it, you can listen here

We've also featured in other places: A French edition of the Greenbox times, which focused specifically on the Greenbox ecolabel packages has been produced. Already, it has been featured at French tourism trade shows.

We regularly get mentioned on various tourism and consumer websites. Here's an example: go!

The Sustainable Energy Awards 2008 are now open for nominations.The annual Awards, which are presented by Sustainable Energy Ireland (SEI) and sponsored by ESB Customer Supply, encourage, recognise and reward excellence in energy management in the industrial, commercial and public sectors.For a full list of the Award categories and details on how to enter - Click Here

Ireland’s national showcase for energy - The Energy Show 2008 - takes place in the RDS Main Hall on the 16th and 17th of April. Organised by Sustainable Energy Ireland (SEI), the event is the perfect forum for suppliers and business customers of sustainable energy technologies and services to meet, share views and transact business.The Show’s format will include a 2-day trade exhibition coupled with a seminar programme covering all aspects of energy efficiency and renewable energy relevant to all sectors of Irish business.In light of the current energy challenge facing business, SEI is encouraging professionals with an interest in - or responsibility for - energy use, to attend and find out how the latest sustainable energy technologies and practices can further inform their profession and ultimately benefit their business.As part of this year’s event, SEI will host a number of special seminars over the two days on important sustainable energy related issues including -Renewable Energy Solutions for Large Buildings; How to Design Energy Efficient Commercial and Public Buildings; Best Practice in Design and Optimisation of Industrial Equipment; Energy Management for Medium-Sized Organisations.For further information on The Energy Show 2008 - including details on how to register for the exhibition and seminars - log onto www.sei.ie/energyshow or email energyshow@registrationdesk.ie

Tuesday, March 4, 2008

You may have received a number of emails about various training & networking opportunities through the SOURCE: Developing Rural Creativity Programme this Spring. Here’s one more!This latest opportunity is offering just mentoring – no training, no meetings, just a chance to access one-to-one support and advice. We’re offering ½ day mentoring sessions at your place of work, on marketing &/or a range of general management issues. Mentoring is with small / rural business &/or creative industry specialists, and costs just €30 a session (about 1/10 of the normal cost!).

If you think you and your business (or business idea) could benefit from this fantastic opportunity to talk through ideas, issues, challenges or plans, then please get in touch with us on:Email: info@greenhat.org.uk Phone: 028 / 048 677 23766 or +44(0) 7710 672502

Nominated‘BEST TRADITIONAL MUSIC NEWCOMERS’Irish Music Magazine 2005"Individually talented and collectively inspired, this is a quartet who speaks a language called music with a fluency beloved of the best multi-linguists." - THE IRISH TIMES

Nominated ‘BEST TRADITIONAL MUSIC NEWCOMERS’ Irish Music Magazine 2005"Individually talented and collectively inspired, this is a quartet who speaks a language called music with a fluency beloved of the best multi-linguists." - THE IRISH TIMES

Trevor Sargent, Minister for Food and Horticulture, has been confirmed to attend The Organic Centre’s Potato Day on March 16th at 4pm.The Organic Centre has invited principals, teachers, parents and students of local Primary Schools to meet the Minister later in the afternoon.Trevor Sargent has just launched the ‘Meet the Spuds!’ Potato Growing Challenge for Primary Schools. Pupils are being challenged to sow the seed potatoes in February and harvest their crop in June. Speaking at the launch Mr. Sargent said, “It is vital for food security in Ireland and worldwide that more people become involved in growing their own food. The skills to grow potatoes and other nutritional food are an important part of a rounded education. I also hope more young people will think about agriculture as a career as more schools grow more food.”The 10th annual Potato Day at The Organic Centre coincides this year with The International Year of the Potato. The day will raise awareness of the importance of the potato and potato collector Dave Langford, a member of the UN ad-hoc steering committee for the international year of the potato, will display more then 100 varieties of potatoes, from the common ones to the obscure.Gardeners from the centre will give growing tips and advice on blight control.Local men Philip McGuinness and Noel Carter will give a coping session using the Fermanagh Loy (special type of spade).

The Grass Roof Café will offer potato dishes on the day.Entrance fee: €5 for adults, friends and children free, concession €3 For more information on Potato Day and a full programme call 071-9854338, e-mail: info@theorganiccentre.ie, website: www.theorganiccentre.ie